Unfinished Pipes & Churchwardens

[madmurdoc]

I was looking around on pipesandcigars.com and noticed they sell unfinished pipes. I was wondering if anyone has had any experience and could tell me how well they smoke, and how it looks when it darkens naturally.
What are your opinions on churchwardens and which are good brands?

 

[matchstickman]

As far as how an unfinished pipe smokes, it really just depends on who made it and how well the pipe is constructed. If youre going with something like a Savinelli or Peterson unfinished, it is likely to smoke just as well as one that has been stained and waxed. Churchwardens? I got a Roma last Christmas and it smokes great, doesnt break the bank either. There are a lot of differing opinions about MacQueen Churchwardens, most of them negative, so you might want to steer clear of them. Again, any of the better known pipe makers make a quality churchwarden such as Savinelli or Peterson.

 

[philip]

What are your opinions on churchwardens and which are good brands?

I have a Vauen churchwarden similar to this one from Pipes and Cigars. It has two stems which is nice because I have the option to smoke it as a standard pipe if I choose.
9mm filter adapters are available (CupoJoes) if you don't like filters.

 

[madmurdoc]

I was actually looking at the Savinelli's and I really like the way they're lookin.

 

[gray4lines]

I was actually looking at the Savinelli's and I really like the way they're lookin.

Me too, I think one of their churchwarden's will be my next buy.

 

[cedeks]

I thought before about getting unfinished pipe and try to make something out of it, but hesitated a lot. I am not sure if one can end up with a good looking prevent decent pipe using tools in home or in garage. There are a lot of videos on youtube showing the process and even with the most basic methods there are certain number of machines and drilling heads involved. I think if you do not have a direct access to some of the basic machines such as electric saw or polish machine it won't be as easy task as you might think. Moreover, I thought a lot about balancing the two sides of the pipe to make it look identical. In all cases good luck and for sure we would like to see some pics of the finished item

 

[madmurdoc]

I should have clarified what I meant by unfinished pipes. I was referring to Natural Unfinished Pipes.

 

[joshwolftree]

I like those unfinished pipes. I think I know where my next PAD order is going

 

[madmurdoc]

I like darker woods, but I was hoping someone had some nice picture of how it looks as it naturally darkens.

 

[madmurdoc]

I've seen P&C sell out of those twice now in the last year or so. If you know the one your want, you may want to decide soon.

So many pipes, so little time.

 

[madmurdoc]

Hmm, I'll eventually get one I think, just to try it for myself. I might end up liking the way it progresses.

 

[spartan]

Mine was unfinished... Then a jerk Leprechaun smoked his Happy Leaf in it and turned it green.
Me Gusta.

 

[cedeks]

Madmurdoc really sorry thought you are talking about something like this :

http://www.vauen.de/photo/detail/en/EBAU_2/98.814.4.13.html

 

[lafraas]

When it comes to church wardens that appear to be made from a single piece of wood, how do they drill the air hole in the stem? I see the graceful curve of the stem and am just amazed at the craftsmanship.

 

[rigmedic1]

Edwards pipes are natural, and mine have all turned very nice shades of deep brown, one so dark as to be nearly black. Of course, I have been smoking some of them nearly 30 years. I have 2 that give a nice nutty flavor near the end of the smoke, too. As far as churchwardens go, I have a Brebbia Lectura that smokes really nice, and a Peterson Dublin that I like to smoke FMOTB in. They are as good as any other pipe in my collection.

 

[cigrmaster]

O think natural finishes are very nice and have recently picked up two of them. I am looking forward to seeing them darken over the years. I am not a fan of churchwardens, they are too unwieldy for my tastes. I am also a clencher so they don't really fit my smoking style.

 

[madmurdoc]

cigrmaster, have you smoked from em yet? How are they? I'm not much on finishes that are that light, but I really wanna see one change over time. :P

 

[lafraas]

Thanks, rothnh. That clears up one mysteries.